東京工業大学 長谷川晶一研究室 : Hasegawa Shoichi Laboratory
日本語 | English


Interaction between people and the world

When we think about a new thing using computers, it is inventing a new interaction between people and computers. In Hasegawa Lab, we are studying how to innovate the interaction, while considering the interaction between people and the world.

Human computer interaction

Originally, human beings are the living creatures who improve their living environment. Although tools and constructions are also the things for improving the living environment, a computer is an interesting tool which can process inputs and outputs so much. When people take some action, a computer gives outputs to people. Then, the behavior of people is changed by outputs of the computer, and this behavior is inputted to the computer again. As a result, since information turn round and round between human and computer, it is necessary to focus attention on Human-computer interaction. PC has a large screen and keyboard in order to support people who work on document working with sitting on a chair in the office. And a smart phone has a touch panel in one hand size in order to support people who work outdoors. A Car navigation system uses a GPS and a voice interface in order to carry out navigation while driving. From the above, a new interaction follows a new use.

Research areas of Hasegawa lab

Interaction technologies include computer processing (software) and human interface technologies which connect people and a computer. These both are studied in Hasegawa Lab. There is a common thing that we are creating something to realize a good interaction considering with the world surrounds people and people.

Virtual Reality

If an object which is made by a computer for interaction and sufficient interfaces are prepared, we can realize an interaction as if the object actually existed. The interaction with such man-made world (Virtual World) is Virtual Reality. The virtual reality can be used for entertainment, training, evaluation, design, etc. Moreover, it also can be used for investigating and collecting about the knowledge of humans and the skills and the knowledge hold by people. We are studying virtual reality in order to create the entertainment with a character expression, the system for work training and evaluation and collecting knowledge, etc.

Physical Simulation

The world surrounding people and people is changing all the time. Physical simulation is software which reproduces a part of world cut out from real world with some physical viewpoint in computer. If we use physical simulation, the object for interaction in the virtual world is able to change as the real world. Therefore, the physical simulation enables various things in the virtual world.

While developing the original physics engine, we have been researching a collision detection algorithm and a collision response algorithm which solves the constraint including contact and joint angle.

Human interface

In order to create a good interaction, a new interface is often required. For example, people do an interaction of moving a hand by understanding the situation with the haptic sensation. Since the haptic interface can present the force and the tactile sensation, it helps to realize the dexterous human-computer interaction using hands.

Commencing with the haptic interface, we are researching various types of human interfaces to realize the interaction which closely relates to a life and pleasure.